A Case of Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Iron Deficiency Anemia in Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Thrombotic complications in iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) are rare. We now report a case of deep vein thrombosis following iron deficiency anemia in cerebral palsy. A 20 year old male was admitted to our hospital? due to a pale appearance. He was diagnosed as having spastic cerebral palsy. On admission, a complete blood cell count showed IDA with thrombocytosis. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were within the normal range. We observed swelling and edema on the left thigh and ankle without tenderness. We performed Doppler sonography and computed tomography. Thrombi were located in the left common iliac vein and left superficial femoral vein with elevated D-dimer levels. We started heparin therapy. We excluded intravascular hemolysis or a hypercoagulable state when we found that Ham's test, anti-cardiolipin antibody, and lupus anticoagulant were negative. The patient died due to hypoxemia and cardiac failure despite ventilator care with anti-coagulant therapy.